SEC Tipoff '15: Donovan, Gator Men's Basketball Off to Preseason Media Days
Wednesday, October 22, 2014 | Men's Basketball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Across America, college basketball teams are several days -- in some cases, weeks -- into their preseason practices. The 2014-15 regular season officially begins Nov. 14.
That's 24 days away.
The run-up hype to that first day of opening tips -- in the case of the Florida Gators, their season debut against William & Mary at the O'Connell Center -- picks up steam Wednesday in Charlotte, N.C., with Southeastern Conference's version of media days.
SEC Tipoff '15 will be an all-day sucker split into two venues: the Ballantyne Hotel in suburban Charlotte and ESPN's nearby SEC Network headquarters.
UF coach Billy Donovan, set to enter his 19th season guiding the Gators, will be accompanied by junior guard Michael Frazier, the lone returning starter from last season's 36-3 Final Four team, and junior forward Dorian Finney-Smith, the reigning SEC Sixth Man of the Year.
The Gators are defending SEC champions (and winners of three of the last four league titles) after completing the first unbeaten 18-game season in league history, then adding the conference's tournament title. Along the way, UF became the first team since 1979 to beat Kentucky three times in a season.
Florida, ranked No. 7 in the USA Today/Coaches preseason poll, will share the morning media session with Kentucky (ranked No. 1), along with Georgia and Vanderbilt. Donovan will at the podium from 10:15-10:45 a.m.
The SEC Network will air scattershot interviews throughout the day, but follow the @GatorZoneMBK for live updates. Also, use the hashtag #askagator to send questions to either Frazier and Finney-Smith, who will be answering select fans.
